Everything Huskies fans believed they knew about the team’s quarterback situation has just been flipped upside down. In a surprising twist of events, Washington has made a mind-blowing announcement that no one expected. Speculation had been swirling; however, nothing could have ready fans for this game-changing news. What does this mean for the team’s future? Buckle up—because this shake-up is going result to a whole new perception throughout the program.
Quarterback Demond Williams Jr. received a directive that every 18-year-old dreams of when he sat down with Washington head coach Jedd Fisch to map out the ideal offseason training plan.
Watch TV, Fisch advised his projected starter for the 2025 season.
More specifically, watch football on TV.
And Fisch wasn’t joking—he was as serious as game week against Oregon.
“Become a top-tier student of the game. Watch as much football as possible and pay attention to the commentators,” Fisch recalled telling Williams.
“Listen to Tony Romo and Tom Brady during broadcasts. You don’t need to focus on anyone else, but those two will teach you a lot,” he added.
Fisch made these remarks during a recent appearance on Canzano and Wilner: The Podcast, where he discussed lessons from Washington’s first Big Ten season, ongoing tampering in college football, revenue-sharing complexities, and the young quarterback who followed him from Arizona to Washington last winter.
Williams had limited playing time during the 2024 season—until the final two games. His poised and efficient performances against Oregon and Louisville (in the Sun Bowl) raised expectations for the 2025 campaign.
“Throughout the season, I gave him eight to 10 snaps per game,” Fisch explained. “At first, some doubted that strategy. But we were laying the foundation for our program, not just chasing a national championship right away.
“Of course, we aimed to win every game, but you have to assess where your team stands. I believed it was crucial to get Demond on the field so we could monitor his growth while building toward what I anticipate will be a championship run.”
Whether that championship pursuit materializes in 2025 hinges on Williams mastering the playbook, recognizing defensive schemes, and leading the offense through highs and lows.
To that end, Fisch considers NFL broadcasts featuring Brady (Fox) and Romo (CBS) to be invaluable learning tools.
“I emphasize this a lot—if you really listen to Romo and Brady, you’ll gain far more insight into the game than you ever thought possible just by watching,” said Fisch, who has coached for seven NFL teams, including the Patriots (though after Brady’s time in New England).
“That’s why I have my quarterbacks go back and watch YouTube replays of games they’ve called.”
For Washington to compete for the Big Ten title and a College Football Playoff spot, Williams doesn’t need to replicate Michael Penix Jr.’s 2023 performance. A level somewhere between Penix’s ’23 season and Will Rogers’ ’24 campaign should be sufficient—especially if the defense remains formidable under new coordinator Ryan Walters, as it was under Steve Belichick.
There’s reason for optimism at Washington: At this stage of the transfer cycle, few Big Ten teams have elite, experienced quarterbacks.
Ohio State will rely on first-year starter Julian Sayin, a highly regarded recruit with just 12 college pass attempts.
Oregon has turned to Dante Moore, who started part-time at UCLA two years ago and saw limited action for the Ducks last season.
Michigan is likely starting true freshman Bryce Underwood.
USC’s expected starter, Jayden Maiava, had a solid but unspectacular 2024 season.
Indiana is replacing Kurtis Rourke with former Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
Among the Big Ten’s top contenders for 2025, only Penn State, with Drew Allar returning, and Illinois, with underrated Luke Altmyer, have proven winners under center.
It’s not far-fetched to think Williams could emerge as one of the conference’s most impactful quarterbacks—provided he studies Romo and Brady and treats every aspect of the offseason as preparation for the fall.
“He needs to understand that everything—from his nutrition to his role in the community—is under scrutiny,” Fisch told Canzano and Wilner.
“Every decision he makes outside the facility affects Washington football. So he needs to keep making smart choices. We’ll send him to the Manning Passing Academy, arrange private training sessions, and, most importantly, he’s going to lead this team.”
Leave a Reply